Blue Jackets sign Anisimov to three-year deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday re-signed forward Artem Anisimov to a three-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not released, but the Columbus Dispatch is reporting the average annual value to be $3.283 million per season.

Anisimov, 25, had 11 goals and was third on the team with 18 points in 35 games in the 2012-13 season. He joined the team from the New York Rangers as part of the Rick Nash trade.

He would have become a restricted free agent had he not signed by July 5.

"Artem is a big part of our team and we're very pleased to sign him to this extension," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He's an extremely dependable two-way center with a dynamic skill set and we think he will be a key contributor to our club in the coming years."

Chosen by the Rangers with the 54th pick of the 2006 NHL Draft, Anisimov has 57 goals, 69 assists and 126 points in 279 NHL games.

Anisimov has won silver medals playing for Russia at the 2010 and 2013 IIHF World Championships.